Season Preview: Daniel looks to finish better behind stellar defense

D.W. Daniel quarterback Corbin Singleton fades back to pass during a practice in Central.

CENTRAL - At most schools, upsetting the defending Class AAA state champion and nearly taking down the top-ranked team in the state during the postseason is a reason to celebrate.

Not at Daniel.

To a powerhouse program that most recently won three straight Western AAA titles and made it to at least the Upper State championship game the last two years, a 7-5 2010 season was unacceptable.

Lions coach Randy Robinson didn't make any excuses last year after losing more than twenty seniors from his state runner-up squad, including 2009 Independent Mail Player of the Year DeAndre Hopkins, just as he isn't this season as Daniel will possibly open a new stadium starting up to 10 sophomores.

"Being young isn't an excuse," said Robinson, who is 48-16 in five seasons and whose team proved the depth of the Western AAA by going on the road and upsetting Clinton and having opportunities to knock off South Pointe the following week as a No. 3 seed. "You don't want to use all these sophomores, but they've worked hard in the offseason and have been taking jobs."

The Lions' season, however, won't just rest on the potential of a handful of underclassmen. Robinson may have his most talented defense yet.

Moving to a 3-4 look this season, the centerpiece will be Clemson commit and senior defensive end Shaq Lawson. A season ago, Lawson finished with 100 tackles and 13 sacks playing alongside 2010 Tiger recruit DeShawn Williams.

Junior Carl Jones will try to fill Williams' shoes at defensive tackle, but Robinson expects Lawson to face double teams at every turn and for teams to run away from him.

"We're going to move him around a bit. He's not going to be in one spot," Robinson said.

The focus on Lawson could open lanes for what Robinson believes could be one of the most talented outside linebacker combos in the Upstate — junior D.J. Greenlee and sophomore Soloman Brown. They'll be joined in the linebacker corps by Michael Pepper and Neil Monoghan.

Senior cornerback Marcus Brown, who is just as good in run support as he is in coverage, will lead an unproven secondary that had mental lapses at times and gave up easy plays in crucial back-to-back losses to Belton-Honea Path and Seneca, costing Daniel a region title.

"We need gut it out and finish hard," Brown said. "We lost games at the end and that shouldn't have happened. We're stronger as a team this year rather than last year when were more individuals."

Robinson has a chip on his shoulder when it comes to the Lions inability to run the ball at times last season.

"To be honest with you, last year was by far the worst season I've had as a coaching running the football," Robinson said. "Against B-HP and Seneca we had to throw to survive and that doesn't work for us."

Sophomore quarterback Corbin Singleton, who is more known for his legs than his arm, should quickly remedy that situation. Singleton takes over for the departed Tevin Robinson, who threw for 1,587 yards and 22 touchdowns last season.